Bold predictions for Chelsea and the Premier League in 2022/23
11. How many different scorers does Chelsea finish with next season? BONUS: List those who will not find the back of the net
Abhishek: 12. Unless Edouard Mendy is promoted to the designated penalty taker, I doubt his name will be on the scoresheet. Mateo Kovacic is likely to join him on the list.
Anthony: 18.
Barrett: 12.
Bryan: 15. This is hard because I’m not sure we know what the final squad make-up will be post-August. That said, I’ll say 15 goalscorers and I’ll say that neither Ben Chilwell nor Callum Hudson-Odoi will net this year.
Caden: 14. That sounds like a lot, but there are so many different competitions for this to happen. Timo Werner—if he stays—won’t score until October. I love his work ethic, but I do not trust him in front of the net whatsoever.
Gabe: 19. I’ll go with 19, slightly less than last season’s tally of 20+. The keepers don’t score, nor does Callum Hudson-Odoi or Emerson (if he stays).
Leighton: 18. There will be a total of 18 different goalscorers for the club in all competitions. I will give a shout and say Conor Gallagher will not score for Chelsea this season.
Mike: 21. According to the Premier League website, there are currently 31 outfield players in Chelsea’s squad. Assuming a few are no longer with the team by the beginning of the season, I would guess that 21 players will find the back of the net at some point. Someone who won’t: Cesar Azpilicueta.
Nate: 19. Without doing any meaningful math, I’ll guess 19. Among those who will fail to score: Cesar Azpilicueta, Mateo Kovacic and Armando Broja (womp womp).
Olaoluwa: 22. Any player can get a goal at anytime. It’s easy to imagine a scenario where the centerbacks score or the midfielders. The other reason Chelsea will have many different scorers is that the Blues’ best chances fall to random players on the pitch, rather than falling to the main goal outlet. Yes, there should be a main goal outlet. Just Edouard Mendy, Marcus Bettinelli and any other goalkeeper on the roster will finish the season without goals.
Tom: I can see most of the senior roster on the scoresheet with all the competitions that will be played, rotation and calibre of player. A few Development Squad defenders may not contribute goals though.
Travis: 12. Every wingback will score, every forward will score and every midfielder will score, so ballpark that all out to 12 players. The only ones that won’t score will be the centerbacks as a dark set piece drought looms over them.
Varun: Everyone except Armando Broja, Kai Havertz and whoever wants to try to be Chelsea’s next striker.
Yi Hao: 21. Emerson and the goalkeepers will probably be the only ones who will not find the net next season.
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12. Which Chelsea centerback finishes as the club’s top scoring defender (Wingbacks not included)
Abhishek: Kalidou Koulibaly. A legitimate threat on set-pieces alongside Thiago Silva, who could easily get five goals by the time the season ends.
Anthony: Thiago Silva. He scores a couple headers from corners every season, so why not again this season? Also, Antonio Rudiger is gone, so he will be needed in terms of goals from corners.
Barrett: Thiago Silva. It’s going to be Silva, how could you think it was going to be anyone else?
Bryan: Thiago Silva. With the current crop of defenders I’m going to say that Thiago Silva will be the leading scorer of the group. This is mostly because Silva has a knack for putting himself in attacking positions and he is pretty solid when it comes to getting his head on the ball on set pieces.
Caden: Kalidou Koulibaly. No question. Thiago Silva will be close, but with the physicality and height of the Senegalese centerback, he will find the back of the net on a bunch of headers. Nobody talks about Koulibaly when it comes to goals, but he scored three and assisted on three in Serie A last season, so the potential is there.
Gabe: Trevoh Chalobah. I want to be the odd one out, damnit. I think Chalobah can up his goal tally from last year and finish as the Blues’ top scoring defender. Four is not too hard to top, right?
Leighton: Kalidou Koulibaly. Koulibaly just for his set piece threat, he will score a couple of important goals for the Blues this season.
Mike: For me, it’s between Kalidou Koulibaly and Thiago Silva. The two experienced central defenders are strong in the air, despite the latter’s relative lack of height, and should prove to be serious threats on set pieces. I’ll say the Senegalese international is likely to score more given his towering physique, but I wouldn’t expect more than two or three goals throughout the season. Koulibaly isn’t likely to replicate the Antonio Rudiger wonder-strike.
Nate: Thiago Silva. Despite not being the tallest guy out there, his positioning and anticipation make him a dangerous set piece option, even as his athleticism declines. As long as he stays fit and gets plenty of minutes, I don’t see why he wouldn’t collect five-ish goals by season’s end.
Olaoluwa: Thiago Silva. Silva gets into position to get on the end of headers more often than other centerbacks in the squad. He also likely has the best aerial prowess amongst centerbacks at the club. It’s difficult to have an opinion on Koulibaly because he has not played in many set piece situations with his current teammates yet. Silva is the safest bet.
Tom: Thiago Silva. The man’s a legend. When will he ever stop?
Travis: Well, I just said none of them will score but if I had to pick one, it’ll be Thiago Silva.
Varun: Lewis Baker: the man, the myth, the legend (long may he reign).
Yi Hao: Thiago Silva. The Brazilian just has a knack in the opposition’s box and despite the fact that his game time will probably be reduced next season, I expect Silva to score at least four or five regardless.